Mikawa Japanese black pine is not a dwarf or yastsubusa variant of the common Japanese black pine.

ANY Japanese black pine originating from Aichii Prefecture is considered to be a Mikawa Japanese black pine.

Usually Mikawa Japanese black pine have a brighter green needle color, sometimes shorter needles and often a rough bark. But, these are seedlings and can vary considerably.

If you ask growers on Shikoku Island they will tell you that the Shikoku Japanese black pine are superior. Growers in Aichii Prefecture will tell you Mikawa is better.

99% of the people cannot tell the difference between Mikawa and Shikoku Japanese black pine. And, 99% of the people cannot distinguish a well grown and trained Mikawa, Shikoku or common Japanese black pine from each other.

Pines with straight needles are more highly prized and should be used for bonsai than those with shorter twisted needles. It's easy to develop short needles, but impossible to straighten twisted needles.

Sometimes, the training techniques are more important than the origin of a certain species.

Your answer is JUST what I was looking for! I'm relatively new to bonsai, but I pines are my most preferred subject. I compared the needles on my Mikawa black pine with those of established black pines and I noticed that even the longest needles on my sacrifice branches were shorter than some of the older needles found on other black pine bonsai.

I looked at your website (internationalbonsai.com) and sent you an email regarding Japanese Five Needle Pines a month ago, but didn't receive an a reply. Would you be able to answer a few questions I have regarding that species?